A legal dispute has emerged over the estate of late actor Chadwick Boseman, nearly six years after the Black Panther star died without leaving a will. According to a new petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Boseman’s brothers, Kevin and Derrick Boseman, are seeking to remove his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman, as administrator of his estate, which has been valued at approximately $3.8 million.
The filing alleges that Taylor has failed to complete the distribution of estate assets ordered by the court in 2022, withheld financial information from the Boseman family, and continued to exercise sole control over Chadwick Boseman’s finances, intellectual property, and other estate assets. The allegations remain unproven, and no court has ruled on the claims.
Family alleges estate administration remains incomplete years after Chadwick Boseman’s death
Chadwick Boseman died on August 28, 2020, at the age of 43 after privately battling colon cancer for four years. Because he did not leave a will, his estate entered probate under California intestacy law, which determines how assets are distributed when someone dies without estate planning documents.
In 2022, a California court approved a distribution plan that awarded 50% of the estate to Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman, while the remaining half was to be shared equally by Chadwick’s parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman.
However, Kevin and Derrick Boseman now claim that those court-approved distributions were never fully carried out. Their petition requests that Taylor be ordered to provide a complete accounting of the estate within 30 days, distribute any remaining assets, and step down as administrator. They have also asked the court to appoint attorney Jason Rubin to oversee the estate going forward.
Brothers cite bank accounts, residuals, insurance, and intellectual property
According to the court filing, the estate includes movie and television residuals, royalties, investments, insurance policies, bank accounts, personal belongings, intellectual property rights, and Chadwick Boseman’s name and likeness. The documents reportedly identify more than $3 million held across various bank accounts.
The brothers allege that several matters remain unresolved. They claim a long-term care insurance policy intended for Chadwick’s mother has not been transferred, multiple bank accounts have not been fully distributed, and the family has not received a complete accounting of SAG-AFTRA residual payments generated since the actor’s death.
They further argue that unfinished probate proceedings have prevented Chadwick’s parents from participating in potential legacy projects involving his image, work, and intellectual property. Boseman’s portrayal of King T’Challa in Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, which grossed more than $1.3 billion worldwide, continues to make his legacy commercially significant through licensing, merchandise, streaming, and archival projects.
Kevin and Derrick also want the court to prevent major business agreements involving the estate from moving forward without broader family involvement. In addition, they seek reimbursement of legal fees and an order requiring disclosure of existing contracts related to Chadwick Boseman’s estate.
At this stage, the filing represents only the brothers’ allegations. Taylor Simone Ledward Boseman has not been found by the court to have mismanaged or concealed estate assets, and the legal proceedings remain ongoing as the court considers the requests.